Alfred benjamin



A. BENJAMIN. Corset-Spring.

No. 223,214. Patented Jan. 6, 1880.

ATTORN EY NFETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHEE WASHNGTQN, D C

STATES ALFRED BENJAMIN,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CORSET-SPRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 223,214, dated January6, 1880.

Application filed May 6, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED BENJAMIN, of NewYork, in the county of New York and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Corset-Springs; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of theinven' tion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form part of this s 'iecification.

My invention relates to an improvement in stiffeners or stays forcorsets or dresses, the object being to provide a stiffener or stay ofsuch construction that it shall be of sufficient strength to withstandthe desired strain without breakage-one which shall be thoroughlyprotected against undue wear, and also prevented from deterioration byreason of dampness or perspiration, and which may be manufactured at asmall initial cost; and to this end my invention consists in stiffenersor stays for corsets or dresses consisting of a flat steel springfurnished with a cord woven on one or both edges thereof, and providedwith a coat' ing of japan or other equivalent material, which willharden and render the fibro us woven covering impervious to water orperspiration.

111 the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of my improvedcorset spring or stay. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, andFig. 3 is an enlarged view, in crosssection, of the spring, showing oneedge of the spring provided with a cord; and Fig. dis a similar view,showing cords applied to both edges. I 4

A represents the flat steel spring of my improved corset spring or stay,and B is a fibrous covering woven upon the steel spring A. In theprocess of weavingI firmly bind upon one edge of the spring a cord, at,of suitable size and material, as shown in Fig. 3; or, if desired, bothedges of the spring may be furnished with corded edges a a, asillustrated in Fig. 4..

After the spring has been woven in the manner above described, whichprocess may be carried into operation substantially in the manner shownand described in Letters Patent No. 191,641, granted me June 5, 1877,the complete spring is then coated with japan or other equivalentmaterial, which will harden and render the covering of the springimpervious to water or perspiration.

A corset stiffener or stay constructed in accordance with myinventionpossesses many important and valuable features not existing incorset-stili'eners of ordinary manufacture. The flat steel springs maybe comparatively narrow in width, and yet posses the desired tension forthe purpose in view, but if inserted in the pockets of a corsetareliable to become twisted and become broken, and also to wear andabrade the fabric.

By securing a cord to one or both edges of the spring increased width isgiven the spring, which adds to its bearing-surface on the corset, andthereby insures a iirm bearin g therein. Again, the corded edges serveto protect the thin edges of the spring, and thus prevent the abrasionand wear both of the corset and the fibrous woven covering of thespring.

By coating the completed spring with japan or other equivalent materialthe corset-spring is rendered impervious to water and perspiration.thereby preventing the oxidation of the steel spring, and hencematerially increasing the durability and elfectivenes of the same.Further, the coating of japan or similar substance becomes thoroughlyincorporated in the woven covering of the spring, and increases itsstiffness by preventing the stretching or displacement of the wovencovering or corded edge or edges, thereby constituting a rigid andcompact corset-spring of great durability and of small initial cost inmanufacture.

I do not restrict myself to any particular process or machine for themanufacture of my improved stiffener or stay. Further, instead ofapplying the japan or equivalent coating after the cord or cords havebeen applied and secured in place, I may apply such coating before thecords have been secured, and, if desired, may apply another coatingafter the cords have been applied.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is- As a new article of manufacture, astiffener or stay for corsets or dresses consisting of a narrow flatsteel spring covered with fabric,

which is braided thereon, and provided with In testimony that I claimthe foregoing I 10 cords secured to one or both edges of the havehereunto set my hand and seal this 24th spring by the braided covering,a portion of day of April, 1879.

the threads of which pass between the cord and edge of the spring, saidbraided and ALFRED BENJAMIN. [L. 8.] corded spring provided with acoating of japan or equivalent material, which inipregnates theWitnesses:

braided covering and corded edge, substan- RUFUS K. MOHARG,

tially as set forth. FRED. BAYHA.

